Firefighters Living In Makeshift Town At The Fort Collins Armory

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (CBS4) – On Wednesday there were about 1,000 firefighters on the scene of the High Park Fire and CBS4’s Ty Brennan got a chance to see where they live when they’re not on the front lines of the fire.

Firefighters and crew who are battling the fire call the Fort Collins Armory home away from home.

“We’re about 1,000 people now, so we just built a town in the last day or so,” Incident Commander Bill Hahnenberg said.

And just like any town, the town needs to sustain its growing population. There are mobile kitchens that are able to feed thousands three meals a day. Shower and sink units were also rolled in. And of course there is a sea of tents where everyone sleeps.

“It’s sort of like camping,” Rick Barrett with the National Park Service said.

Those staying there aren’t just firefighters. There is a huge support system that helps operate every facet of the firefighting effort.

“I work here as ground support as an equipment manager,” Barrett said.

There are cooks, communication mangers, maintenance crews, and many more who take care of everything in the makeshift town.

Thousands of employees from across the west all there for one goal

“We enjoy supporting the community and the suppression of this fire,” Barrett said.

Some of the employees at the armory are working 14 hour days for 14 days straight.